OBJECTIVE:The study aim was to use existing relevant indexes to establish an index series for the quantitative measurement of Qi deficiency patt (QDP) in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).METHODS:Seventeen indexes of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2),TCM pulse diagnosis,heart rate,and blood pressure were integrated into an index series,and 94 selected subjects were divided into a healthy control group,a mild QDP group,and a typical QDP group.All three groups were then synchronously given a breath-holding (BH) test and index detections using TCM apparatus for auxiliary diagnosis and treatment and a photoplethysmograph.The detections were carried out repeatedly until there was no monotonic change in the value of the minimal SaO2 during a BH measurement (SaO2min) or in the duration of BH during a BH measurement (TBH).RESULTS:BH measurement and index detection data from 380 eligible cases were analyzed and asignificant intergroup difference was found for 12 indexes.CONCLUSION:An index series for quantitative QDP measurement could comprise the 12 effective indexes:RSaO2d (rate of decline of SaO2 during a BH measurement),RSaO2r (recovery rate of SaO2 after a BH measurement),SaO2min,BFV (blood flow velocity),TSaO2d (the time at which SaO2 started declining during a BH measurement),TBH,TSaO2min (the time of occurrence of the minimal SaO2 during a BH measurement),TSaO2max (the time of occurrence of the maximal SaO2 after a BH measurement),PTP (pulse-touching pressure),SBP (systolic blood pressure),PWV (pulse wave velocity),and DBP (diastolic blood pressure).Of the indexes,RSaO2d could play a key role in quantitative QDP measurement;RSaO2r and SaO2min could be used to differentiate the QDP symptom of shortness of breath and as early-wing indexes for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.BFV,TSaO2d,and TBH could be used to quantitatively assess the QDP symptoms of spontaneous perspiration and shortness of breath.